Lions' Ernie Sims will be a different player in new defensive scheme

AP File PhotoLinebacker Ernie Sims should be flying toward the ball rather than making a lot of reads in the Detroit Lions' new defense.

Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims went into the regular season last year brimming with confidence.

The defense had played well in preseason and he finally felt like he was getting the knack of the Tampa Two system, a scheme that requires each player to fill and maintain a gap responsibility.

It took about 15 minutes of the regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons to destroy it all.

The Lions defense was exposed for the fraud that it was and the players made constant mistakes in running the scheme and then, when they did execute it properly and filled the gaps, they just weren't good enough to get the job done.

I had a brief conversation with Sims during the recent minicamp about the differences in the defense and how it affects him. He really liked the old coaching staff and he wasn't going to say anything derogatory about them. All he'd say is that this scheme fits him better. Why? Because in the former system, Sims had to fight his instincts in immediately charging after the ball - he would see the ball go one way but because of the gap responsibilities, he'd have to actually step into a different hole.

Sims felt he was getting better at that, but during the toughest times last year when his confidence was gone, he'd often break with the scheme and try to make a play in an effort to get a stop on his own. That only led to more problems.

Under the new regime, Sims will be asked to play more of the role that he played at Florida State, trusting his instincts and flying to the ball. Sims was drafted ninth overall by the Lions in 2006 to be the "next Derrick Brooks'' but many will tell you - including Lions head coach Jim Schwartz - that Brooks had a unique skill set to fill that weakside position in that scheme. Every Tampa Two defense in the league is looking for the "next Derrick Brooks.''

It will be interesting to see how Sims adapts to the new run defense - he's undersized, but he's a huge hitter who doesn't shy away from taking on guards. It'll also be interesting to see how Sims progresses in the pass defense, an area where he wasn't much of a playmaker in the past. In his first three years, Sims had just one interception and three batted passes. If his production during the off-season workouts is any indication, Sims should be improving those numbers during this season.